Has the time finally come to replace your garage door opener? Maybe you would like to get a bit more space in your garage. Of course, now you need to think about which model you should buy. What’s right for you?
Today, it seems as though there are countless models of garage door openers available for purchase. This is both good and bad. It means you have a lot of choices, but it also means that it can be difficult to know which one is right for you. First, you will need to consider the space you have in the garage, the size of the door, your needs, and your budget.
The traditional trolley operators are one choice, but they are not the only choice. They aren’t necessarily the best choice either. Around 10 years ago, the side-mount garage door opener was created for residential garages. Other names for this type of opener include jackshaft and wall-mount.
Understanding Wall-Mounted Garage Door Openers
The wall-mounted garage door openers are installed on the sidewall of the garage door. You will find that the accessories are the same for this type of garage door opener as they are for a central opener. The main difference comes from how the system operates. This type of garage door opener will connect directly to the torsion shaft that’s mounted above the door. That shaft holds the torsion counterbalance system. When the system is activated, it will turn the shaft. This will raise or lower the garage door.
Here is a sleek jackshaft-type garage door opener from LiftMaster (8500W model)
The side-mount garage door openers have quite a few benefits, including a nice appearance. They don’t usually look too bulky and out of place. Instead, they typically have a sleek, modern look that will be welcome in the garage. Of course, you will find more benefits than just their appearance, as we will discuss below.
Benefit #1: More Space
The garage and clutter tend to go hand in hand. Many people use their garage for storage space and before they know it, there’s hardly any room left. If you feel like your garage is filled to the brim with things you don’t need and could organize better, it’s time to make some changes.
Get Rid of Things You Don’t Need
The first thing you should do is make sure you get rid of everything you don’t need to keep. Too many of us hold onto items we think might be needed down the line. All those items do is clutter the garage, though. If you have trouble letting go of your belongings, you should check out this blog when you are getting ready to remove clutter.
There are three main questions to ask when decluttering. First, if you need the item, would you even be able to find it in your garage? Second, how much would it cost to buy another one if you do need it in a few years? Third, is there even a chance that you might need to use the item, or are you just holding onto it for no good reason?
When you remove clutter from your home and garage, it can be good for you. Some of the benefits that decluttering can provide, according to WebMD, include:
- Improving Concentration – When you have a clean environment, distractions will be limited, which will help to improve your productivity.
- Better Self-Esteem – When you declutter, you will feel better about your space and yourself. It can even help to reduce your stress.
- Improve Relationships – When you have a clean space, you will feel more comfortable inviting over friends and family. Additionally, it can reduce conflicts with people you live with when the area is cleaner.
- Less Worry About Allergens – The garage is one of the spaces in the home that collects a lot of dust and other allergens, especially when you use it for storage. Cleaning and organizing the space will help keep them to a minimum.
- Better Health – When you are better organized and clean, you will be more tempted to organize other aspects of your life, which can help you get healthier. It can also help you get better sleep at night.
This garage is messy and cluttered. It’s difficult to work in a place like this, and you wouldn’t want to spend much time there. Image from Unsplash.
Before you can start getting the garage in order, you need to clear everything out, so you can get a better sense of how much space you have. You can do this all at once or one section at a time if you prefer. When you are clearing out items, you will want to sort them into different piles. You will have a pile of items you need to keep, a pile for donation items, giveaway items, things you can sell, and things that you have to throw away.
Once you have things cleared out of the garage, you will find it’s easier to clean the floor and the shelves. After it’s cleaned, you will be able to get a better sense of how you can best organize things.
Don’t Store Dangerous Items
Although you can store many types of items in your garage, there are certain things you do not want to keep there because they could be dangerous. Check out this blog, which has a list of 15 things you shouldn’t store in your garage.
You should not store:
- Hazardous materials like gasoline, propane tanks, and oily rags.
- Pet food, firewood, toys, bedding, and books, which can attract rodents and insects.
- Items that could be damaged in the garage, such as important documents, clothing, canned food, wine, photos, and electronics.
Get Organized
Since you will be installing the opener on the wall, it means you will have more overhead space available. This could be used for some extra storage if you need it. You can find some great products that you can use to help you, and most of them are affordable. Here is a blog that can help to inspire you on ways that you can do more with the space on your garage ceiling. You have more options than you might realize.
The side-mount garage door openers can work with all types of ceilings. They work well with high ceilings, and you will only need to have eight inches of space on one side of your door for them.
By removing the shelves and opting for a wall-mounted garage door opener, she could have saved a lot of space.
Benefit #2: Improved Safety
Today, most newer garage doors are safe. They all have photoelectric reversal systems, so when the beam between the units is broken, the door will be forced upward. This ensures that pets and kids will be safe from closing garage doors. The major difference with the jackshaft openers is that they have a covering over the motor. This reduces the risk of injury caused by belts or chains.
One of the other advantages is that the motor tends to be quiet. If you don’t want to hear the garage door open and close, you will want one of these quiet wall-mount units rather than a trolley system, which can shake and rattle.
Video: MyQ
Although the wall-mounted openers don’t come with security cameras, you can always buy one and install it if you would like. One of the best options is the myQ intelligent camera from LiftMaster.
With this device, you will have control of the camera and your door. You can open and close it no matter where you might be from your phone or computer thanks to the app. If there is movement detected by the camera, you will receive a notification. This gives you a better sense of what’s happening in your garage all the time.
Check out LiftMaster’s website to learn more about the camera and app.
Get full control of your garage with the myQ app from LiftMaster.
Benefit #3: Reduce the Need for Maintenance
Another reason to choose a wall-mounted opener is that it will not need to have as much maintenance as a trolley system. There are fewer moving parts in the system. Don’t fret about adjusting chains and belts or cleaning. It’s also much easier to access the side-mount system when you do need to maintain it.
Since it’s on the side of the wall, you don’t have to worry about lubricant dripping down onto your floor or the car roof either. These easy-to-maintain openers are a great option to consider.
Here is the LiftMaster 8500C garage door opener model.
We Can Help You Find What You Need
Maybe you are convinced you should get a wall-mount opener, or perhaps you are still a fan of the trolley system. All of the residential models have different features, and it can sometimes be hard to know what you should pick. We can help.
Call Us at 905-642-6606 and Set Up an Appointment
The pros working at First Choice Overhead Doors are ready to help you learn more about your options. You can contact us to learn more about what we offer, and we know that your needs are unique. We’ll answer your questions and ensure you find what’s right for you and your budget. You can even get a free quotation by email.
If you need to have a new garage door, we can help with that, as well. Check out the photo gallery to see some of the available options. We can help get your garage door and opener into shape before you know it.
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